Lessons Learned: How to Launch Better Software Faster

Shipping Greatness by Chris Vander Meyhttp://www.shippinggreatness.com/
Twitter: @shippingchris

Notes taken from How to Launch Better Software Faster, an O'reilly webcast on Nov. 13, 2012

http://event.on24.com/r.htm?e=511276&s=1&k=77D7C33E4A6B9F49DCC3353C1B05C109

• Get right components into place before writing software.
  • Mission Statement; short and sweet
    • example: "Enhance customer delight"
    • Aligns your team to drive forward
• Team
  • Hiring; only hire the very best people you can
    • trustworthy and independent
    • Managers need to dedicate a large amount of time to talent acquisition
    • error on side of not making a hiring mistake
  • Job Selection
    • Find a team that you love to work with
    • Smaller teams may yield greater results
    • Good balanced teams: senior for each junior
• Right Process
  • Too much process: example may be daily stand up meetings for 45 minutes
    • hard to move forward if tied up in process
  • Too little process: example may be no status updates
    • teams are going in different directions
  • Need to find a balance for your team
  • Error on side of too little process
    • move quickly
    • empowers team members
• Faster
  • Faster release increase cash flow
  • Get users feedback faster
  • Employees/team members see progress; motivation increases
• Crisp Communication
  • Sharing ideas clearly and quickly
    • example may be a 1 page document to share an idea or problem
  • Generates less confusion
  • Less time taken to document
  • Be clear and specific, actual numbers and figures.  
  • Start with most important thing
  • Don't hide your data
• Fight The Right Battles
  • Understand the true cost of a battle
    • If you can afford to lose, lose quickly
  • Focus on goals
    • Don't make the argument about 'you' or 'I' 
• Spend Wisely
  • Time is very precious...use it wisely
  • 'Do we have to have a meeting for this?'
  • FAQ Documents may help save time 
  • Meetings need an agenda...if there is no agenda, ask for one
    • Be as efficient as possible